'Monsanto Protection Act' adopted in the US

Imagine a democratic government adopting a legislation that would instruct its own Agriculture Department "to ignore any judicial rulings that block the planting of crops that the court determines to be illegal"(according to Senator Jon Tester from Montana).

In essence, this is what the US Congress has done by adopting a small clause (Section 735) inside the 2013 agriculture budget.

The signing by President Obama of this legislation will effectively bar US federal courts from being able to halt the sale or planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops even if they failed to be approved by the government's own weak approval process and no matter what the health or environmental consequences might be.

Groups have rightly called this legislation the 'Monsanto Protection Act' as it enables Monsanto and other companies to continue to sell GE seeds even when declared illegal by the courts.

The Center for Food Safety (an independent US NGO) has qualified this as being akin to 'corporate welfare' for Monsanto and other biotech companies.

In theory and in a democratic system, the justice system should serve as a watchdog to force everyone – including government agencies – to follow the laws adopted by the legislators. Apparently, not any longer!

The adoption of the 'Monsanto Protection Act' has generated public outrage and will probably strengthen the resolve of the growing food movement in the US to oppose the power of the food corporations.

This should also be a reminder to all of us across the world of the ability of some corporations like Monsanto to influence policymakers to adopt measures that are against sustainable agriculture, farmers, consumers and the environment. And let's add now to this list: independent judicial review! A very sad day for democracy and the future of our food.

Eric Darier is a senior campaigner on sustainable agriculture at Greenpeace International

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Eric Darier Ph.D.
says:

Yes! This is outrageous! Please help spread this info as many more people should also be outraged. Food Democracy Now has a petition asking President ...

Yes! This is outrageous! Please help spread this info as many more people should also be outraged. Food Democracy Now has a petition asking President Obama to also 'sign' a bill for mandatory GE labelling ('Consumer Protection Act') :) See: http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/obama_signs_monsanto_protection_act_time_to_label_gmos/
You can also say inform on this issue in the US via the Center for Food Safety that is doing great work.
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press-releases/1906/center-for-food-safety-denounces-dangerous-biotech-earmark-in-senate-passed-spending-bill
If you are in Canada, there will be a day of action against GE alfalfa on April 9. See details here: http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/GE-Crops-and-Foods-Not-on-the-Market/Alfalfa/Day-of-Action-to-Stop-GM-Alfalfa-April-9

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(Unregistered) TdPP
says:

wasn't this "slipped into" the bill by the GOP in a way that made it impossible for the gov. to NOT pass it in order to prevent a shutdo...

wasn't this "slipped into" the bill by the GOP in a way that made it impossible for the gov. to NOT pass it in order to prevent a shutdown and other things? Perhaps something should be radically changed in the way bills are presented to the gov. for ratification, etc.? There is clearly much work to be done on the political front.

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Eric Darier Ph.D.
says:

Another thoughtful comment on this issue: 'The Monsanto Protection Act? Only in America / This legislation's railroading is yet another small...

Another thoughtful comment on this issue: 'The Monsanto Protection Act? Only in America / This legislation's railroading is yet another small cut into democracy' http://investorplace.com/investorpolitics/the-monsanto-protection-act-only-in-america/

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(Unregistered) Sun Wu
says:

Someone is posting '...so disappointed in Obama...' and a Senior Campaigner PH.D., one of all those intelectuals arount at GPI, is posting ...

Someone is posting '...so disappointed in Obama...' and a Senior Campaigner PH.D., one of all those intelectuals arount at GPI, is posting 'very thoughtful comment'.

May I ask what you got your PH.D. in? Political Sociology aswell?

What is happening is a shame. But it is happening on a daily basis. Just look at Lobbying of Tobacco, Pharma-Industry...and it is happening not only in US but in EU aswell...

Without being into this issue too much, could you please give me a short summary of distribution of power in US, mainly congress and senat, and give a rough overview on all the problems Obama has to deal with daily at the moment in order to prevent a huge dump to blow up?

In addition: could you please give me a rough overview of all the problems Greenpeace is asking Obama to solve additionally? And which, by asking him to do something he can not do so, create the feeling Obama is personally responsible for everything going on in the US.

The power of US-president is said to be anything but totalitarian, even in good times with clear election-outcomes.

You being a Greenpeace-Intellectual, are aware that all leading minds agree in OBAMA having to make compromisses on a daily basis taking account of the strength of Republican in US-American congress, correct?

You are not? Then INFORM yourself before writting in the name of Greenpeace...start to give a few thoughts to things like the financial cliff, weapons, meeting energy demands of energy junkies...

However you believe this dilema to be solved, I consider this political problems deserving being called a problem because it is dealing with Republicans doing sabotage to any wishful problem-solving and blocking the president whereever they can in order to get their goals realized, like most likely the 'Monsanto Protection Act'.

The 'Monsanto Protection Act' is, according to my understanding, just another example of the failure of Greenpeace US, and civil society in North America. Instead of understanding what is going on they continuously fire guns loaded by Morano and other, strange forces...

CLEAR THE GROUNDS and prepare the political soil...and the Peace Nobelprize-winner Obama will be first (and the happiest President in the world) finally being allowed politics he would call his own style...until Greenpeace and civil society in the US have done so: honor President Obama for having managed to prevent a blow out, and having managed to keep in power against Mick Romney and the power of money from anything called big...

Only this is an achievement of incredible dimensions!

Please, just try it once: AMERICA, we need to talk...instead of continuing to point fingers at Obama. You have no idea of the damage you do!

Sun Wu

PS: but I do believe, Greenpeace US is not really doing a good job. As I have said earlier, there seems to be new brains needed. Just look at pictures of those US-warriors: suit-wearing proofs of political understanding and creativity...every CEO of any company knows how to deal with this type of person.

But feel free to claim doing 'creative communication', but don't complain about things moving in the wrong direction!

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Eric Darier Ph.D.
says:

Thank you for taking time in sharing your views.

There is a vibrant food movement in the US (see: http://www.greenpeace.org/internationa...

Thank you for taking time in sharing your views.

There is a vibrant food movement in the US (see: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/genetic-engineering/blog/44315/) that will change the future of food towards healthier food and more ecological practices in agriculture. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/agriculture/solution-ecological-farming/solutions/

As part of a necessary democratic debate and in view of the grave dangers that our planet is facing, Greenpeace will continue to denounce (and sometime praise!) political and economic leaders when it is required.

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(Unregistered) Sun Wu
says:

Things will change, so you are announcing another victory here Doctor Darier? Where did you promote? On what issue? You like suits?

'...

Things will change, so you are announcing another victory here Doctor Darier? Where did you promote? On what issue? You like suits?

'...Greenpeace will continue to denounce...' ???

What Greenpeace is doing here denouncing Obama for the last three or four years is so much beyond political REALITY I am afraid having to say it is on purpose for PR-reasons. In politics this behavior is called populism.

By the way, talking of Obama and Greenpeace denouncing an Peace-Nobelprize-Winer who, just for your information, would rather be in urgent need of support by civil society....

...could you please inform your IT-Specialists that the comments on DOCTOR Naidoo's posts is still not working? Think this 'technical problems all started with Obama being permanently denounced.

Sun Wu (just call me Hitler, it seems to be ok with the moderator)

PS: where did you get your PH.D? You do not mind if I do some research on you DOCTOR/Doctor Darier, correct?

:)

Get your suit ready, my friend, or start thinking before publishing.

PPS: did you hear, Obama did not close Guantanamo...bastard, he promised he would do it...like he promised to do so many things. This guy is bad, and if soon he will approve Keystone or whatever, than all of us environmentally concerned people do have another proove: Obama is a disappointment, not Greenpeace.

Are you aware Greenpeace used to be one step ahead of things going on, especially politically? To me it seems you guys are always the last raising your voice loudest when pointing a finger at 'so called failures' of others in order to get some attention at all.

But you wear suits, nice to know.

We have it black and white once again said by another Greenpeace-Intellectual, Mr. Darier, PH.D.: GREENPEACE IS CONTINUING TO DENOUNCE OBAMA...why don't you meet with Marc Morano & friends to coordinate your activities?

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listenin
says:

That is about how the US legislature works, TdPP; It seems that every step forward is held ransom by selfish interests that turn it into steps backwa...

That is about how the US legislature works, TdPP; It seems that every step forward is held ransom by selfish interests that turn it into steps backward. Although I'm not current with every piece of legislation at or near the US voting floor, that's how it seems.

I might argue with one point you've offered: "There is clearly much work to be done on the political front."

Perhaps it's less work that needs to be done, and more thought invested in actions. Ya, something radical, like uphold democracy when democracy is due, not allow decision making to continually descend into the chaos of competing for the last word or a market.

Setting Monsanto above the law is not only gambling with your health and mine, but stacking the deck in favor of genetic engineers is a gamble with the greater community, with ecologic health as the stake.